OnePlus Nord – Everything we know so far and what we want to see

Now the news of the OnePlus Nord 2 has arrived, and rumors suggest it could be the company’s most impressive mid-range model to date.

Below is a detailed list of all the believable leaks and rumors about the OnePlus Nord 2. We’ve also put together a wish list of features we’d love to see. Make sure to bookmark this article and check regularly for the latest news.

OnePlus Nord 2 leaks and rumors

1. It will have a Snapdragon 765G processor

One of the most reliable sources on mobile news, Steve Hemmerstoffer (@onleaks), has tweeted that the OnePlus Nord 2 will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor.

This is the same chipset found in the Oppo Reno 3 Pro, Realme X50 Pro, and Asus ROG Phone 3. It’s a slightly upgraded version of the Snapdragon 765 found in the original Nord, offering slightly better performance and support for 5G connectivity.

2. It will have an AMOLED display with a hole-punch camera

According to tipster Ishan Agarwal, the OnePlus Nord 2 will feature a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a hole-punch camera for selfies. This will be a big upgrade over the 5.84-inch LCD display on the original Nord.

3. It will have 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage

Another leak from Ishan Agarwal suggests that the OnePlus Nord 2 will come with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This would be an improvement over the 6GB/128GB configuration on the original Nord.

4. The design will be similar to the OnePlus 7T

The latest leak from Sudhanshu Ambhore, who has a track record of accurately leaking OnePlus devices, suggests that the design of the OnePlus Nord 2 will be very similar to the OnePlus 7T. This means it will likely have a teardrop-style notch and a triple camera array on the back.

5. It may have a 48MP main camera

One of the biggest upgrades on the Nord 2 is expected to be its main camera. Leaks suggest that it may have a 48MP sensor, up to 8x optical zoom, and optical image stabilization.

Are AirPods waterproof?

Name and date of publication

Rumors about a OnePlus Nord 2 first gained momentum in November 2020. News of a new OnePlus device, codenamed Denniz, suggested the company was working on a Northern sequel.

The official mention of the Nord 2 finally came in May, albeit through an apparently accidental listing on OnePlus’ own website as a qualifying phone for a Stadia Premiere Edition deal. This listing, released on May 25th, also suggests that a start date isn’t too far off. The original Nord debuted in late July, so it wouldn’t be far-fetched to envision a similar launch window for the Nord 2.

OnePlus Nord 2: design

While we’ve heard a lot of rumors about its chipset, we haven’t yet seen a rendering of the OnePlus Nord 2 from a reliable source. Renderings of another Nord phone, codenamed Ebba, arrived in March. But while some believed it was the Nord 2, it’s more likely that it’s the successor to a cheaper Nord phone.

It remains unclear whether the Nord 2 will adopt the design features of the OnePlus 9 series, stay closer to the original Nord, or become more Oppo-like in its aesthetics.

OnePlus’ design philosophy with the Nord focused on reducing excess material, making the shell and frame less durable than other OnePlus models. And although the Nord had dust and waterproof elements, it lacked an official IP rating. We expect the Nord 2 to improve both of these aspects.

Specifications and functions

OnePlus only uses Qualcomm silicon for its devices, but the OnePlus Nord 2 could mark a turning point. Early rumors pointed to a OnePlus device offering a MediaTek chipset, namely the Dimensity 1200. While the OnePlus Nord 2 was initially considered a target, recent leaks have questioned this. Still, the flagship-level silicon in the North 2 would make it an attractive, higher-performing mid-range offering.

Silicon aside, details of the OnePlus Nord 2’s core specs remain a mystery. If it’s something like the original Nord, we can expect the company to bring at least a 90Hz display, 5G connectivity, a battery over 4000mAh, and a quick charge. If the phone includes the Dimensity 1200, it gives OnePlus more leeway in terms of screen refresh rate and camera hardware limitations.

Price and availability

The OnePlus Nord debuted at 399 euros as a direct challenger to Google, Apple and Samsung’s mid-range. However, we don’t expect OnePlus to increase the price of the Nord 2 too much. With the OnePlus 9 from 719 euros in Europe and 729 US dollars in the US, the company has some leeway.

If the Dimensity 1200 rumor is indeed true, OnePlus could be targeting the premium mid-range market. MediaTek silicon is generally slightly cheaper than its Qualcomm counterparts, so it’s possible the Nord 2 could be a cheap flagship killer. Again, we’ll have to wait and revisit this section as soon as more is known about the phone.

connected: The best alternatives to the OnePlus Nord

As for availability, the Nord went on sale a few weeks after its launch date. It debuted even later in India. If that’s any indication, expect the North 2’s availability to be staggered across the global regions as well.

It’s also too early to say whether OnePlus will bring the Nord 2 to the US as opposed to the original Nord. OnePlus decided to launch the Nord in markets that it knew had the greatest chance of success.

OnePlus Nord 2: what we want to see

Better cameras (no more)

One of the biggest complaints against the OnePlus Nord was that it definitely came down to quantity over quality. The phone was equipped with a total of six cameras that have two selfie shooters (normal and wide) and a quad rear setup.

We regretted the fact that two of the four rear cameras were 2MP lenses, which were mainly there to inflate the numbers. However, even the main and ultra-wide sensors didn’t give great results. Our own reviewers also thought the dual selfie shooters were disappointing.

We would be happy if the OnePlus Nord 2 focuses on improved image quality in general. We’d also like to see the company ditch those crappy 2MP sensors in favor of improving hardware elsewhere (e.g. better main or wide-angle sensors, better selfie cameras).

Three years of Android version updates

OnePlus confirmed that the Nord will receive two years of Android version updates and three years of security updates. This is in line with many large OEMs, but Samsung recently raised the bar. The South Korean manufacturer announced three years of Android version updates for a variety of devices, giving Android fans more incentives to buy Samsung phones.

OnePlus has offered a similar commitment to its flagships, but it definitely has to step up and offer a three-year commitment to the OnePlus Nord 2 (and the original Nord). Hopefully, the controversy over the Nord N10 and N100 only getting an Android version update will force OnePlus to pull its socks off.

More consistent prices

It’s not uncommon for smartphone prices to vary in different markets, with manufacturers taking into account numerous regional factors. However, there was a huge price difference between the North’s MSRP in India and its prices in Europe. It didn’t help that the brand only offered the 64 GB model in India. Hopefully this price gap will narrow with the OnePlus Nord 2.

Read more: The Best Budget Phones You Can Buy Right Now

It would be great if the pricing was generally closer to the Indian price level than the European one. For example, the original 128GB North launched in Europe for € 399 (~ $ 456 then), while the same variant had an Indian introductory price of Rs 27,999 (~ $ 375 / € 316 then). That is a difference of just over € 80.

Availability in the USA

Another major pain point with the original Nord was that for some reason it wasn’t available in the US. You’d think it would be a breeze for the North to get to market especially given the lack of competition in the mid-range compared to EMEA markets and India.

OnePlus brought the Nord N10 to the US, but the phone arguably offers less money than the standard Nord (without an OLED screen and Snapdragon 765G chipset). This discrepancy has widened with the entry-level model Nord N100. So here is the manufacturer that is getting things right with the Nord 2 by bringing it to North America.

MicroSD support

OnePlus traditionally foregoes microSD card support on its phones, which means you can only rely on internal storage or the cloud. This isn’t necessarily a huge problem if you have a lot of internal storage to start with.

However, the OnePlus Nord will be launched in India with a 64GB option, and the lack of storage expansion will be felt more strongly at this point. If OnePlus insists on a 64GB option for the Nord 2, we’d want microSD support too.

1. A better selfie camera

While the hole-punch design is an improvement over the notch, we would love to see a better selfie camera on the Nord 2. Something like the 20MP sensor found on the OnePlus 7 Pro would be great.

2. A headphone jack

The original Nord was one of the few phones in recent years to come with a headphone jack, and we hope the Nord 2 will have one as well.

3. A bigger battery

The original OnePlus Nord had decent battery life, but we would love to see a bigger battery on the Nord 2. Maybe something in the 4,000mAh range.

4. Improved low-light camera performance

One of the main criticisms of the original Nord’s camera was its poor low-light performance. We hope OnePlus has improved this with the Nord 2.

5. 5G connectivity

With more and more countries roll out out 5G networks, it would be great to see the Nord 2 support 5G connectivity. This would make it one of the most affordable 5G phones on the market.